Aug 30 A Note To Our Readers...

Hello to all our fellow Hellotitttienyc readers across the world. I know this may seem like a bit of an unusual post, as opposed to my usual collection of content. Unlike the pop culture articles that I usually publish on my page, I feel that because of certain events that have been going on throughout the United States as of recently, calls for something a bit different. I wanted to take a moment to openly share a bit of who I am with all of you. Hi. My names Tasina Berkey. I was born in Brooklyn, New York. I graduated from the State University Of New York (SUNY) at Oswego with a dual Bachelor's degree in Cinema and Screen Studies, and English. I have been apart of the Hellotittienyc team here for the past eighth months now.

Photo taken from mbhohio.org

Why am I telling you readers all these things? Why am I all of a sudden opening up a bit of myself to you? It’s all because of one thing: vulnerability. Why you might ask? I am choosing to open myself up; Taking a moment to put all the aspects of me out on the table, for all to see. I am choosing to be vulnerable. I am choosing to reveal more of myself to you guys, because I feel that there is something bigger. There has been nothing but a rollercoaster of emotional and political backlash in this country for the past eight months. Although there has been much scandal that we have almost inaptly become accustomed to at this point, this is different.This is far beyond anything else. This is about one thing, and one thing only. Civil rights.

The events in Charlottesville, Virginia last Saturday has not only opened up our eyes to the unsettling reality that racism in this country is still undeniably at large, but also that ignorance is becoming more of a dangerous entity. Lives are being lost. Demonstrations of blatant racism and oppressive views are being vastly more tolerated. Selected groups of people throughout this country are being shunned from factors such as race, religious belief, sexual orientation, the list is ongoing. We as a society are no longer demonstrating the progressive nature that we once were so proud to claim. Today, I as an American of this country want to say my thoughts. We are not moving forward. We have not been moving forward for a long time. As a young 22-year-old millennial just trying to pave a life and career for myself, everyday I live in a constant state of anticipation. Anticipation of what I’m going to hear about that day in the news. About the hate crimes that have undoubtedly increased in numbers throughout this country. About threats that people are receiving every single day because of superficial factors such as race or sexual orientation. About a close friend of mine who received a death threat not even a full 24 hours after the election, because of being herself. I want to take a moment to ask every one of our readers one thing. Please be open. Please be kind. Please be an ally.

Photo taken from clubs

We as a country of AMERICANS do not move forward when we choose sides. We move forward when we choose to help each other. We move forward when we finally put our differences aside. We move forward when we accept the fact that regardless of where we come from, or what we choose to identify as, in the end it doesn’t matter, because we are one. We are a country that has been blessed with so many different colors of diversity, and characters that make our home one of a kind. So to everyone who's reading this, I ask you to be vulnerable. Let yourself open up, and give others the opportunity to open up as well. The best way to continue progress is when we all come together and choose to understand each other. Have empathy. Have compassion. But most of all, have a heart. I can only hope that I will see more evidence of this in the future very soon. To all the readers who chose to listen and hear me out, thank you. Let’s come together, and strive forward so that our generation can be the one that makes a difference. And for anyone who has ever felt an inkling of oppression, I ask you to please hang on. Have hope. I can say for sure that you already have an ally right here. From me and all the other strong women from Hellotittienyc, we will not stand for oppression on anyone’s part. We are moving forward, and we all hope you guys can join us for the ride.